Blessed are the pour in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.—Matthew 5:3
Let’s face it, we human beings are pretty poor and needy. There's just really no getting around it; the evidences are just far too compelling.
Even Jesus was poor and needy. I think one of the reasons why He lauded such a condition was because He embodied it.
One—and I emphasize, ONE—of the many differences between Jesus and me, though, is that Jesus recognized it and readily admitted it. “By Myself, I can do nothing, " He said (see John 5:30).
I, on the other hand, like to pretend that I'm devoid of need and perfectly capable of taking care of myself. Hey...that's just the American way. Once again, I sure to do seem to relish lying to myself, you know?
But I'm tired of the lies; tired of trying to fend for myself; tired of looking to me as the source of that for which I need. I think I'm finally being brought to a place where I just really want to be me. Completely. As I am in my neediness.
To be me as I am, though, means that I must admit my poorness of spirit—my leanness of soul—and lay my life at the Feet of Jesus and at the feet of my brothers and sisters as one in desperate need...
Of Him.
And of them.
But I'm tired of the lies; tired of trying to fend for myself; tired of looking to me as the source of that for which I need. I think I'm finally being brought to a place where I just really want to be me. Completely. As I am in my neediness.
To be me as I am, though, means that I must admit my poorness of spirit—my leanness of soul—and lay my life at the Feet of Jesus and at the feet of my brothers and sisters as one in desperate need...
Of Him.
And of them.
I’ve been thinking, recently, about a passage of scripture found in Acts 20:35, which reads, "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
You know, it’s really quite funny, but when I think back over my time in the faith, the context for my hearing the above verse has most often been just prior to the offering being taken up in church.
While I don't want to be disrespectful of my pastoral brothers, who've gone on before and who've spoken such grace in to my life, I do wonder, sometimes, if the uttering of such a "scriptural preface" was not an interpretative s t r e t c h of this particular verse. I write this because the context for this verse is Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, wherein, he speaks to their following the example he himself set in life. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a little look under the hood of Acts 20:33-35…
While I don't want to be disrespectful of my pastoral brothers, who've gone on before and who've spoken such grace in to my life, I do wonder, sometimes, if the uttering of such a "scriptural preface" was not an interpretative s t r e t c h of this particular verse. I write this because the context for this verse is Paul’s farewell speech to the Ephesian elders, wherein, he speaks to their following the example he himself set in life. If you don't mind, I'd like to take a little look under the hood of Acts 20:33-35…
I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
Read it again—please...
I think the spiritual meaning of this verse has a lot more to do with the giving of oneself in service to the "weak" than it does with the giving of one's money. While the giving of money is, of course, important, I believe that, in this passage, Paul wishes to emphasize the “blessedness” of giving of oneself to the "hard work" of helping the weak (those in need).
I think the spiritual meaning of this verse has a lot more to do with the giving of oneself in service to the "weak" than it does with the giving of one's money. While the giving of money is, of course, important, I believe that, in this passage, Paul wishes to emphasize the “blessedness” of giving of oneself to the "hard work" of helping the weak (those in need).
As I think about this passage, I am forced to ask myself, "Self...in your life, has it been your desire to bless others through service to them?"
"Of course it has!!" my inner-self said in answer.
"Of course it has!!" my inner-self said in answer.
Well...sometimes...
Once again, I think my thinking about all of this has not been particularly healthy. In fact, I think my service has been a lot more ego-centered than God-ordained. [BTW...In a future post, I would like to write a little on the concepts of “healthy serving/giving” as opposed to “unhealthy serving/giving.” Lord-willing, it will happen! :o)]
Okay...back to what I was writing about above (nice grammar, Dave)...
So...it would seem that, very recently, God has been speaking into my soul about the internal egocentricities surrounding the application of the Acts 20:35 verse in my daily life. One of the really cool things I'm discovering about God is how He has this really cool way of turning upside-down that which appears right-side-up. In actuality, though, what He really does is turn right-side-up that which has been laying face-down in the mud for a really long time.
So...it would seem that, very recently, God has been speaking into my soul about the internal egocentricities surrounding the application of the Acts 20:35 verse in my daily life. One of the really cool things I'm discovering about God is how He has this really cool way of turning upside-down that which appears right-side-up. In actuality, though, what He really does is turn right-side-up that which has been laying face-down in the mud for a really long time.
I think that's been a little of what He's been up to in my life. Especially, very recently.
Anyway...so I’ve been thinking a lot about how it really is more blessed to give than to receive. But I’ve been thinking about it in a way that I don’t think I ever have before. Let me explain…
If it really is more blessed to give than to receive—and I firmly believe that it is, than what a wonderfully "blessed" thing it would be for my brothers and sisters if I were to let them see my vulnerability and then allow them to give to me out of the increase God has given them. Does that make sense to you?
Written another way...I can be a great blessing to others by allowing them to be a conduit of God’s loving-kindness toward me.
Before I write any more, though, I want to make another distinction. And here it is…
Your seeing someone in need does not necessarily equate to God’s call upon your life to go and meet that need. Does that make sense? While meeting a particular need may very well be God's will for you, it may not. The point is that it is up to God in you, and not you trying to be God. Can you see the difference?
So...to summarize my thoughts a little, and to expand out a new understanding of Acts 20:25, here's a slightly modified version of what I wrote above...
You and I can be a great blessing to others by allowing them to be a conduit of God’s loving-kindness toward us.
I know what you're thinking (at least, I think I do)...
So...to summarize my thoughts a little, and to expand out a new understanding of Acts 20:25, here's a slightly modified version of what I wrote above...
You and I can be a great blessing to others by allowing them to be a conduit of God’s loving-kindness toward us.
I know what you're thinking (at least, I think I do)...
Now….wait a minute, Dave. This all sounds a little self-serving, to me, does it not to you?
To quote Robert Fulghum, “Maybe…maybe not.”
IF…THEN…
If I am in great need in a specific arena of my life…
…And…
If it is God’s desire for you to be a conduit of His supply toward me in that particular area of need…
…And…
If your giving to me benefits me…
…And…
If your giving to me benefits you…
…Then…
I’m not going to argue with God over His ways of enabling us to love, give to, and receive from each other in a way that edifies us both “healthily” and builds the kingdom. Are you?
This is, at least, something to think about, would you not agree?
More later…
God’s peace to all’y’all…
Bling
Being a warrior, Dave, is not about imagined perfection or victory or invulnerability; it's about ultimate vulnerability.—Sonam
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